breakfast comes in
at a little past eight
a morning ritual
here
served with a smile
the toast warm
the tomatoes sweet
a dozen or so olives
cucumber cheese
a cup of tea
a bottle of cold water
coffee to follow
this is how morning
begins
in my office
while I gaze
at the fountains
outside
Ataturk looks down
from my wall
while scrolls
of bamboo a wild horse
remind me of home
lunch will come later
after a session
at noon
I will chat
with Ali
have two more sessions
dinner with Mustafa
then home
my week has started
with rituals
only distracted
my mind adrift
thinking of a woman
and her rituals
so far apart
but melted together
in my heart